Game Freak's Beast of Reincarnation represents a genuine first for Game Freak - their debut action RPG and their first Unreal Engine 5 project, stepping well outside the Pokémon franchise that has heretofore defined the studio for three decades. The game is also targeting a wider range of platforms, including the PlayStation and Xbox versions we'll cover here and the PC version that we'll provide optimised settings for in a later piece.

From the first boot, it's clear that Game Freak has made some interesting technical choices in these console versions. Film grain is forced on throughout, while the menu character model has no anti-aliasing across any platform (including PC). Likewise, every mode on PS5, PS5 Pro, Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S targets a 60fps output, in contrast to the 30fps quality and 60fps performance modes we often see on console UE5 titles. Oddly, cutscenes can be optionally capped to 24fps for a more cinematic presentation.

PS5 Pro represents the premiere console platform, with the most hardware power available, and fittingly comes with three modes: performance, quality and "PS5 Pro Enhanced". Weirdly, there's no sign of Pro-exclusive PSSR upscaling here, with the game relying on relatively ancient FSR 1 spatial upscaling across the board. Performance mode reconstructs a 1080p-1260p resolution to 4K, sacrificing ambient occlusion and Lumen reflections to maintain higher frame rates. Even then, it struggles to hit a locked 60fps, dropping into the mid-30s during cutscenes and ~45fps at worst during busier scenes.

Quality mode on the PS5 Pro delivers the sharpest visual experience by rendering between 1080p and 1620p while retaining Lumen GI and reflections. However, this comes at the cost of performance, with frame rates dipping into the 40-60fps range. The "PS5 Pro Enhanced" mode occupies a middle ground rather than the top spot that its naming suggests, using the same visual configuration as quality mode but capping the resolution at 1512p. It offers a frame-rate between the other two modes but fails to distinguish itself significantly.

Base PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X consoles share a similar technical profile, with quality mode from 1080p to 1512p internally and performance mode around 1080p, both reconstructed to 4K. Both machines unfortunately struggle to consistently hit their 60fps target. Performance modes on these systems reduce ambient occlusion and cut Lumen reflections to boost stability, yet they still experience drops. Xbox Series X generally holds a slight lead over the PS5 in quality mode, occasionally pulling ahead by approximately 12 percent in specific scenes while running identically in others. Performance mode delivers higher frame-rates, though still with a fractional Series X lead at times. Both platforms would ideally be used with a VRR display to smooth out perceived performance.

The Xbox Series S presents the most challenging experience, plagued by severe streaming-related hitches that can push frame times into the mid-20s when traversing different areas. Additionally, the console suffers from a persistent texture-streaming bug where assets fail to load at higher quality after approximately 15 minutes of play, often requiring a full system reboot. Visual compromises are also evident, with no Lumen reflections in performance mode, reduced grass quality and lower-resolution transparency effects compared to its counterparts. Resolutions are cut back significantly too, with performance mode at 360p to 720p, and quality mode at 720p to 990p.

Ultimately, Beast of Reincarnation is a disappointing technical debut on Unreal Engine 5 for Game Freak. Despite offering a panoply of modes, none offer console players a consistent 60fps - even on the powerful PS5 Pro - while the Xbox Series S offering arrives in absolutely dire straits with critical streaming and texture issues alongside significant cutbacks. The decision-making here is just bizarre, and I hope that Game Freak is given the time and resources to fix some of the most pressing issues and allow this organisationally critical game to be shown at its best.